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Being indicted for smelling weed in dorm room

Hi, last night my hall Residence Assistant smelled marijuana in my room. He conducted a search but he found nothing. However, he said that there was still probable cause that I smoked marijuana in the room and he referred me to the school's judicial coordinator. Should I plead guilty? Should I tell them the truth that I had marijuana even though they didn't find it?

If the standard is "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt", I wouldn't confess if the only thing they have against you is the word of your RA. Just how reliable is his sense of smell and his knowledge of air circulation in the dorms?

If the standard is "more likely than not", it's more likely that you'd be convicted. In that case, a confession might pay off with a more lenient punishment.

I don't know if I'd even confess with "more likely than not" depending on your dorm. I had a room in one of the dorms that would smell like weed at least once a week when some people would decide to smoke at the bottom of the fire escape ladder, and it would just get blown straight into my room (all the way up on the fourth floor =\).

I'll agree with the majority here - open your windows and filter the smell out of the rest of your room, and play dumb. He can't prove it if he didn't find it; that's ridiculous. Say you didn't have it and they can't reasonably punish you...and for god's sake, don't smoke in your dorm room.

preo12...Looking back at your previous posts, this isn't the first time you've been caught smoking weed and won't be the first time you're looking for justification to lie about it. You're certainly not alone in either category, so we'll forego any legal/ethical opinions. But if you can't even work up the energy to walk outside your dorm to spark one up...seriously? You feed the stereotype that smoking dope makes people lazy. If you don't want to give up your hobby, maybe consider transferring to a school in Washington or Colorado. After this last election, they may be more "herbally inclined" to suit your needs.

However, he said that there was still probable cause that I smoked marijuana in the room and he referred me to the school's judicial coordinator.

Sounds like you have no idea what "probable cause" means. Probable cause is a term that applies to law enforcement officials and allows them to search your possessions without a warrant.

"Probable cause" doesn't apply to your RA. Even if it did, it's meaningless, since he already has the right to search your room - and did! "Probable cause" has absolutely nothing to do with indictments. I don't understand how you're being "indicted" either. This is something done by a court of law. So far your RA has suspicions, but no evidence. He can't charge you with a crime, so you cannot be indicted in any way. And what exactly are you pleading guilty to? Have you been formally charged by anyone? The whole story makes no sense.

Be very careful about any criminal drug conviction, which can make you ineligible for federal financial aid and federal loans. If it is just a college disciplinary action, without any criminal charges, it is not so bad - probably community service hours.

Found this online from thetruthaboutforesnicscience.com "many products and natural phenomenon “smell like marijuana” such as Axe Body Spray, garbage, marigolds, a skunk, skunk cabbage, hops (as in what it used to make lager), and many other things."

Have you ever considered what your smoke does to a fellow students who has asthma. My daughter ended up in the ER because someone on her floor wanted to get high. That is one reason why schools try to enforce the no smoking policies. Please consider your fellow students. If you want to get high in your room, get an apartment and smoke as much as you want.

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